Ridecamp: Re: [RC] Horse needs a home

I agree with you whole heartedly.  It disgusts me that this organization is
only interested in getting money out of this horse.

I worked for a camp one summer, the guy who owned it was one of these super
religious types with an agenda.  Anyway, every day we would take the horses
out and tack them up early in the morning, they would either be rode all day
or stand in the sun fully tacked when not being ridden, he was very strict
that we not loosen girths during the human lunch time.  The horses were
NEVER offered water during the day, or allowed to eat.  The majority of the
horses bore saddle sores from cheap, ill-fitting tack and needed weight.

Several of the horses were donated by owners who thought by giving their
horses to this nice religious guy for his camp and kids, that they would
have a happy home for the rest of their lives.  They were so mislead.  This
is not the only circumstance I have run into where horses donated to a 'good
cause' were later sold for a profit.

There are several real organizations out there that offer happy homes to
unwanted horses.  These organizations often have several horses on their
feed bills that are unridable, lame or just plain old.  Knowing what I know
now I would never donate a horse to any camp, riding program or otherwise.
BTW, I'm e-mailing this to my sister-in-law in case we ever die and she's
wondering what to do with the horses.

C.
----- Original Message -----
From: "Rides 2 Far" <rides2far@xxxxxxxx>
To: <hikryrdg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Cc: <GlowAmber@xxxxxxx>; <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Thursday, August 15, 2002 7:34 PM
Subject: Re: [RC] Horse needs a home


>
>  We are hoping for $1000 for Peppy, but we will go lower
> > as long as the price remains above auction prices.
> >  If you are interested or know someone else who is, please email me.>
> Amber Carroll
>
> I'm sure this is a worthy program, but this seems sort of like an
> extortionist threat. "If you don't buy him he'll die...sorry"  I've
> bought and sold a lot of horses. I've never had to send one to an auction
> and 99% of the time made money while matching the horse with the
> appropriate rider.  ESPECIALLY if someone has given me a horse free I
> feel a strong responsibility to do right by him...make a little profit
> maybe, but when it was free there's plenty of room to make some profit...
> not "minimum price set by killer".  I'd never consier donating to a group
> that had that attitude.
>
>  I've had experience with 2 handicapped groups. The first in this area
> was a little alarming.  The second has been a big improvement as more
> horse people have been involved.  The first  group had a mare donated to
> them that I knew was the world's biggest hussy when in heat and DANGEROUS
> in the spring. She WANTED A MAN AND SHE WANTED ONE NOW!!! She used to
> board at my place and had been ridden plenty by a 13 year old girl who
> knew what she was doing...jumped, shown English, you just had to know how
> to handle her.  She traded her even to a total rookie for his horse.  He
> had trouble with her and donated her to the handicapped program.
>
>   I called them in November and offered them $400 for her (didn't want
> her but knew they shouldn't have her).  They were quite confident I was
> stupid and told me they were very happy with her thank you.  I said, O.K.
> have fun in the Spring.  In April they called.  Must have asked all over
> town to find me again. >g<  They very casually said, "You were interested
> in Kelly? We're willing to take $400 now.  I cracked up and said, "It's
> Spring isn't it?"  Turned out Kelly wouldn't let them catch any of their
> other horses in the 40 acre field (which foundered their herd like
> clockwork each spring) and was coming after them.
>
>  I offered them $300 and they said, "Come get her, just slide the check
> under the door. (They did not know me well enough to trust me like that).
>  I said, "When will you be there, I'm free to come any time"  They pretty
> much said they would NOT be there...period.  They they just sort of threw
> out, "You are bringing help aren't you?"  I told them not to worry.
> Found out later they'd already tried to sell he to the local killer and
> they couldn't catch her with roping horses and all.  I went up alone. I
> caught every horse in the field one by one and took them out the gate and
> tied them across the road.  Had a good chance to see the lack of hoof
> care and the dirty stock pond where they got their water.  Each time I
> caught another horse I chased Kelly away as if I didn't want her.
>
> Finally as I caught the last pony she practically knocked me down to get
> her head in the bucket before him.  I knew her well. You could catch her
> easy as pie if she had on a halter, but you could forget it if she
> didn't.  By the way, she'd gained about 300 lbs. on their pasture and had
> gone from an English looking registered QH to looking like a Suffolk
> Punch.  I grabbed her around the neck with my arms and she spun one full
> circle with me dangling there then stood still like an angel.  Put a
> halter on and loaded her in the trailer by myself with the use of two
> long ropes rigged a rump rope and she was quietly loaded and came home.
> I sold her to a lady who has a nice stud and keeps her mares bred.  She
> says she's the best riding horse she's got.  She leaves a safety type
> halter on her in the field.  I could have gotten a lot more if I'd sold
> her by the pound though.
>
> $1000 is pretty steep for an 18 year old horse you got free and needs and
> experience rider. I would be looking for a 16 year old with limited funds
> and unlimited courage to match with that boy.
>
> Angie
>
> ________________________________________________________________
> GET INTERNET ACCESS FROM JUNO!
> Juno offers FREE or PREMIUM Internet access for less!
> Join Juno today!  For your FREE software, visit:
> http://dl.www.juno.com/get/web/.
>
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>  Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
>  Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
>  Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
> =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
>

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
 Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
 Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
 Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp
=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=